Folding metal chicken crate



April 10, 1945. J. F. LEASE 2,373,481

FQLDING METAL CHICKEN CRATE Original Filed Dec. 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 27 f2 l6 2% M w 7/ 7 -2 4/ /6 6mm @3 MW April 10, 1945. J. F. LEASE 2,373,481

FOLDING METAL CHICKEN CRATE Original Filed Dec. 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 2.5 50 5 I 4 ,25 I W 26 5% /9 ZIY Patented Apr.10,1945

FOLDING METAL CHICKEN CRATE John F. Lease, Pico, Calif; assignor clone half f to Glee Hanson Barnes, Pico, Calif.

Substituted for abandoned application Serial No. r

53,064, December 5, 1935.

This application April 19, 1944, Serial No. 531,845.

4 Claims. (Cl. 220-471) This invention which formed the basis of abandoned application Serial No. 53,064, filed Dec.

5, .1935, relates to a folding or collapsible metal chicken crate, and it aims toprovide an exceedingly durable and relatively inexpensive construction which may be readily collapsed or extended and in which the parts are held in extended position by means of springs and associated latch members, all remaining permanently attached to the crate parts.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with. accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings- Figure 1 is a plan view of the crate; s

Figure 2 is a side elevation o-fthe crate:

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially centrally through the crate and showing a cover wall or panel raised;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional viewtaken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4; I

Figure 6 is a View taken on the same plane as Figure 5, but with the parts collapsed;

Figure '7 is la, horizontal sectional View taken on the line l'l of Figure 2; and

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 2.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, Ill designates a bottom wall preferably metallic and in pan form. It is imperforate and has standing side flanges l I and end flanges l2. If desired, one or more battens of wood, metal, or other material, may be secured to the under surface of the bottom I0, as at Ill.

The crate also has two end walls It, two side walls {4, two top walls [5, and a partition wall It. Said walls l3, I l, l5, and I6 are constructed so as to occupy the extended position best shown in Figures 1, 2., 4, and. 5, or to be collapsed into the condition shown in Figure 6.

The walls l3 and partition 16 are similar in construction. They consist of transverse rods l8 spanning and journaled in the flanges II, and which have the free terminals of U-shaped frames IQ of angle cross section rigidly fastened thereto. In addition, crossed metallic wires 20 are soldered or otherwise fastened to each other at the points of crossing and soldered or otherwise fastened to rods l8 and flanges of the angle frames l9. These walls I3 and I6 may be folded into the pan lllfinto parallellsnitherewith when not in use, -and. when 'in use, occupy a vertical position.

Each of said walls I3 and It includes a contractile coil spring 2 I, having one end'22 anchored to the rods l8 and havinga latch rod 23 connected to the opposite end of the spring; and which pass loosely through openings 24 in flanges of the angle frames Ill. The upper ends of said latch rods 23 have downwardly extending hooks 25 on opposite sides thereof. v The side walls It are similar in construction. Each side wall has a longitudinal rod 21 at the base thereof journaled in'wthe flanges l2 of the base wall. Rlgid'with rods 21 at each end thereof are right angularly disposed angle members 218, which areconnected at theend opposite the rods 21 by a rod 29 parallel with the rod ,21 and rigidly secured at opposite ends to the angle members .28.; Cross wires '30 are soldered or, otherwise'rigidly secured together at the points of crossing and soldered or otherwise rigidly secured at their respective terminal-ends to the angle members 28 and rods 21' and 29.

It will be noted that the rods 21 are disposed above the position occupied by the walls l3 and IS in their folded position, and hence the walls .l4 may be folded over and superposed on the rigidly connected with their respective termi-' nals to the rods 3| and bars 32. Those ends of wires 33 adjacent the rods 29 are hookshaped, extending about the rods 29 and being journaled thereon. When the various Walls are in the extended or operative position, they are fastened against collapse through the engagement of the hooks 25 with the rods 3l as shown, such engagement being readily effected since the latch members 24 may be moved against the tension of the springs 2|.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, and for instance, a, closure or closures may be provided in any of the various walls to facilitate the placing or removal of chickens or the like within the crate.

collapsible against the bottom wall, side walls having rods, the latter rods being disposed above the folded position of the end walls-and jour naled in the end flanges, said side walls being I journalled in the side flanges and to said latches,-

ioldable over said end walls, 1 top walls carried by the side walls and foldable over said end walls,

tom wall provided with upturned side flanges and end flanges, end walls disposed between said flanges having rods journaled in the side flanges, said end walls being collapsible against the bottom wall, side walls having rods, the latter being disposed above the folded position of the end walls and journaled in the end. flanges, said side walls being foldable over said end walls, top walls carried by the sidewalls and Vfoldable over said end walls, frames on the end Walls, latches slidable in said frames engageable with the top walls to prevent collapse of the walls, contractile spring means connected to' said latches and to the rods of the associated wall, and a plurality of hooks on said latches.

3. A crate of the class described, having a bottom wall provided with upturned side flanges and end flanges, end walls disposed between said flanges provided with bars which are pivoted to rods journaled in the side flanges, said end walls being collapsible against the bottom wall, side walls having rods, the latter being disposed above the folded position of the end walls and journaled in the end flanges, said side walls being foldable over said end Walls, top walls carried by the side walls and foldable over said end walls, latches carried by the end walls engageable with the top walls to prevent collapse of the walls, contractile spring means connected to the rods which are all of said walls comprising primarily crossed wires in frame members at-the edges of the walls, rods at'the upper ends of the side walls, the top walls having bars at the ends thereof which are pivoted to the rods'at the upper ends of the sidewalls, and wires of the top walls having hook shaped portions surrounding and journalled on the last mentioned rods.

4. 'A crate of the class described, having a bottom wall provided with upturned side flanges and end flanges, end Walls disposed between said flanges having rods journaled in the side flanges, said end walls being collapsible against the bottom wall, side walls having rods, the latter rods being disposed above the folded position of the end walls and journaled in the end flanges, said side walls being foldable over said end Walls," top walls carried by the side walls and foldable over said end Walls, latches carried by the end walls engageable with the top walls to prevent collapse of the walls, contractile spring means connected to said latches and to therods of the associated wall, a plurality of hooks on said latches, a partition wall having a rod pivoted to the side flanges, and contractile spring controlled latch means carried by the partition wall and engageable with the top walls.

JOHN F. LEASE. 

